In Australia the dentistry degree is generally 4 years when you are entering as a university graduate. Following on from an undergraduate degree that is at least 3 years, this pathway takes at least 7 years.
Dentistry is a career that has the power to transform lives. That's incredible in itself, but it's also in demand and offers fantastic stability. The stumbling block for many is the high barrier to entry. University courses are extremely competitive and getting in takes total commitment.
Entry requirements
Becoming a dentist involves at least five years' study at dental school, followed by one or two years of supervised practice.
In addition, dentists have a good career opportunity in Australia. The Bureau of Labour reports that the employment sector with the most growth potential over the next five years is health care and social assistance. This means that there are many opportunities for dentists to grow their careers in Australia.
The Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) Program is a six-year program consisting of basic science, clinical science, and dental public health courses.
When it comes to how hard both subjects are to study, there isn't a massive amount of difference. In the pre-clinical years at least, there is a lot of overlap between content. Dentists have to know anatomy, physiology and pharmacology etc. similarly to medics.
Dentistry is known to be a challenging qualification requiring the development and demonstration of expert knowledge, from terminology to procedures. The curriculum that you will follow at dental school will not be identical for all institutions, but there are some key commonalities.
How much does a Dentist make in Australia? The average dentist salary in Australia is $144,130 per year or $73.91 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $112,145 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $194,749 per year.
While the average 4-year dental program could run you around $400,000 with all expenses included, the career trajectory is promising. Average dentist salaries outrank various other industries, putting newly graduated dentists in a fairly sound financial position.
The average dental school graduate owes $293,900 in student loan debt. The average public school graduate debt was $261,230. The average private school graduate debt was $354,900.
Their Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) program is a 5-year, full time program requiring an ATAR of 99 (OP 1) and features: Dedicated specialist teachers. Pre-clinical placements in your first year.
Is it too late to start dental school when you're 30? In short, no. However, there are some specific points you may want to consider before applying. Explore these three important considerations for dental school attendance at or after the age of 30 as you're making this big decision.
The Conclusions of the Dental Care Study
The most important takeaway is that demand is expected to rise at a rate of 2.51% per year through to 2020. However, if the government decides to spend more money on dental care, these numbers could rise.
As for dentistry, the lowest minimum ATAR required by an Australian program is an ATAR of 90 (Charles Sturt University), an adjusted ATAR of 90 (University of Adelaide), or an adjusted ATAR of 70 for the University of Adelaide's Bachelor of Oral Health.
Dentistry is not an easy ride, but it is a rewarding one. As a medical qualification, both the entry requirements and the course demands are rigorous – as befits a process which allows you to treat and operate on patients.
The highest-paid dental specialty is oral and maxillofacial surgery. Surgeons, including oral and maxillofacial surgeons, make a national average salary of $288,550 per year . These professionals are highly trained in both dental care and medical surgery.
Working long hours as a dentist can be extremely stressful and demanding, which requires great time management. Every patient needs the dentist's undivided attention, but as time passes and one grows weary, it can be challenging to offer the greatest care.
Highest and Lowest Dentist Salaries. According to the BLS (2021), $164,010 is the median annual wage for dentists in May 2020. The lowest 10% received less than $79,060 compensation, while the highest 10% gathered more than $208,000.
Dentist starting salary
Dentists that choose to enter dental specialty training then are paid a salary of between £51,017 and £58,398.
1. Surgeons: $394,303. Taking out the top spot on this list and earning a whopping average of $394,303 per year are surgeons.
It may not seem like math plays a critical role in dentistry, but as with most everything, math is incredibly important to both the health of patients in the practice & ensuring dentists have the best tools to use.
Becoming a doctor or dentist requires a serious time commitment: between 7-12 years for doctors and 4-12 years for dentists. This commitment begins after the completion of secondary school, as a Bachelor's degree is required for prospective medical students to continue to medical school.